mat

You See: Explaining with Mat

Level 5

Mat adds a reason or explanation: Vėluoju, mat autobusas neatvažiavo. (I'm late, you see, the bus didn't come.) It works like nes (because), but it sounds more conversational.

How It Works

1. Explaining after a statement

  • Vėluoju, mat autobusas neatvažiavo. (I'm late, you see, the bus didn't come.)
  • Kavinė uždaryta, mat šiandien šventė. (The café is closed, because today is a holiday.)

2. Mat, nes and kadangi

  • Nes: the everyday because. It follows the main clause.
  • Mat: like nes, but a little more relaxed. It also follows the main clause.
  • Kadangi: since. It can come first, and it suits formal writing.

Mat is correct Lithuanian and also appears in writing, but it has a spoken, explaining tone. It can also occur in written explanations.

3. Mat kaip!
On its own, Mat kaip! shows surprise: Well, look at that! or So that's how it is!

Related words
Juk also adds a reason, but one the listener should already know: Paskubėk, juk vėluojame. (Hurry up, we're late, you know.)

Examples (5)

  1. Vėluoju, mat autobusas neatvažiavo.

    I'm late, you see, the bus didn't come.

    Word by Word: I-am-late, you-see bus not-came.

  2. Šiandien liksiu namie, mat blogai jaučiuosi.

    I'm staying home today, because I don't feel well.

    Word by Word: Today I-will-stay at-home, you-see badly I-feel.

  3. Jis nieko nežino, mat buvo išvažiavęs.

    He doesn't know anything, because he was away.

    Word by Word: He nothing not-knows, you-see was gone-away.

  4. Kavinė uždaryta, mat šiandien šventė.

    The café is closed, because today is a holiday.

    Word by Word: Café closed, you-see today holiday.

  5. – Jis laimėjo loterijoje. – Mat kaip!

    "He won the lottery." "Well, look at that!"

    Word by Word: He won in-lottery. See how!

    On its own, Mat kaip! shows surprise.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the mat clause before the statement it explains.

    Mat autobusas neatvažiavo, aš vėluoju.
    Kadangi autobusas neatvažiavo, aš vėluoju.

    In this causal pattern, mat follows the statement it explains. To give the reason first, use kadangi. You can also keep the order and say Vėluoju, mat autobusas neatvažiavo.

  • Leaving out the comma before mat.

    Vėluoju mat autobusas neatvažiavo.
    Vėluoju, mat autobusas neatvažiavo.

    Mat starts a new clause, so a comma goes before it, just as before nes.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

matLevel 5You See: Explaining with Mat

Learn This First

Mat supplies an explanation following a statement.

Words in This Pattern